Could this be TRUE?

[DriveNSaturns]

I had heard that GM was forcing Saturn to use a Honda engine in the new SUV and that they were doing away with the Saturn engines and transmissions altogether. I was told that Saturn will use GM engines and transmissions ONLY in the very near future. I also heard that Saturn will introduce a new family of cars based on platforms shared with other GM divisions. If this is true will we have to say good-bye to our diferrent kind of company?

[Abe95SC2]

It is true. The new S series will be based on GM's Delta platform and will have a new engine that GM plans to use worldwide. This coupled with the extensive use of Saab/Opel engineering in the LS makes one wonder if there will be anything left of Saturn as we know it. However there is some small glimmer of hope in the rumor that Saturn will oversee the manufacturing of the Delta platform at it's own facilities.


Abe.

[John10]

There is plenty of information about this subject on Charlie's site and in print. I guess it depends on what you call a Saturn engine. Saturn just broke ground on a huge new plant addition to build engines. If Saturn builds an engine is it a Saturn regardless of who designs it or whether it is based on a standard GM model? There is also plenty of information available about the future small Saturns being based on standard GM platforms. Face it, the days of Saturn being an independent company are over. If however the resulting product remains a good one, how much are you going to care? American companies are far more oriented to costs and results rather than process. That is what you are seeing at Saturn in terms of manufacturing and only time will tell if the results are good ones. IMO the only place Saturn may remain different is on the retailer end. Jill Lajdziak and Cynthia Trudell were quite pointed in comments made several months ago that the customers would not notice the behind the scenes changes that are taking place at Saturn. Time will also tell about this. I for one will be watching closely.

[HumpMan]

I don't think it has ever been stated that the GM use of the future Honda V-6 would be in the Saturn SUV. It has been stated that it would be used in a yet "unnamed Saturn" vehicle. It's possible that the Honda V-6 will eventually be used in the Saturn SUV, but I don't think that is what is initially planned. The SUV is only about a year or so away from introduction, and Honda, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't even broken ground on the engine plant in Alabama.

Since the Honda engines to be produced in Alabama are targeted towards the Odyssey or its successors, I might think that when and if it is used in a Saturn, it might be in a mini-van.

the HumpMan

[DriveNSaturns]

John5,
My main concern is what you said would be Saturns difference. If Saturns are based on other GM platforms how in the world can it stay the same on the retail end? If the customer can go down the street to the local Chevy dealer and get a car similar the the Saturn, kinda like the Cavalier and Sunbird, and negotiate a lower price, what would be the customers advantage to buy Saturn? And just how long will it be before the Saturn Retailers negotiate price in order to keep those customers?

[JPRex]

The difference is what you do with those platforms. If Saturn continues to build quality cars that are distinctly Saturn and the customer service is of high standing, Saturn cars with differ from other GM cars.

[ClapDaddy]

DriveNSaturns,

Well, it all depends on how you look at things.

A friend of my daughter's who WAS going to buy a Saturn, visited a Chevy dealer. What she told me may cause Saturn some problems moving forward. She told them that she was really thinking of buying a Saturn. The Salesman then told her that the Malibu use to be made at the same plant that now makes Saturns. The same people make both cars. The main difference is that the Malibu has standard ABS and that the price is not fixed. She did ask about the polymer panels and the Salesman said that steel is stronger than plastic.

Bottom line, she could NOT afford a Malibu but ended up with a Caviller.

As far as the engines, the 4 cylinder engine that is used in the "L" series, is made using the process that Spring Hill uses. The last that I heard about the Delta Platform, the only ones still going to use it (in the near future) is Saturn.

If the ONLY differences between Saturn and other GM cars is polymer panels and some trim, it will be hard IMO for Saturn to sell its cars. I would probably (if I still stayed at all with Saturn) buy from a GM division and take it to Saturn for maintainence and repairs.

If you are a GM fan, then all that is happening should NOT be a concern for you, IMO. I am NOT a fan of GM and the "L" has been a disaster that even "Zarella" has stated. As of last week the "L" cars that are delivered to the retailers STILL suffer far more "defects" than the worse "S" series car. The service manuals are WRONG and not complete also in the "L".

IMO a major part of the problem is at Wilmington. The workers there have Saturn shirts but work for GM. Their paychecks say so, they say so and the unique way of working with management, is NOT there. Saturn IMO, is NOT just a car, it is a way of life. As a Professional Instructor in the Communications field, I can tell you that ALL the training in the world, does NOT change a person's stance.

This next year should tell how the public receives the "L". If the ONLY way they can sell them is through incentives, then they have NOT found the correct formula. EVERYONE that I talk to is concerned. Most don't know how Saturn can go back to a "no-hassle" company. Once "incentives" are a part of business, it is VERY hard to go back. I PERSONALLY, am really upset that I can no longer buy a Saturn when "I" want one.

The latest that I have heard about the Delta platform is that it will used FULL polymer panels and use the engines that will be built in Spring Hill. The SUV will also be built in Spring Hill and "should" have the FULL polymer panels also. The challenge will be to see if the SUV has NONE or only a FEW defects. If it is received well by the customers AND the Retailers, then it will be a success, IMO.

Al

[John10]

DriveNSaturns- All that we as customers can do is watch things closely, react by offering our opinions in feedback to Saturn and ultimately "vote" with our money when it comes time to buy our next car. As much as I feel positively about Saturn, I lived over forty years without Saturn and survived very nicely. I'll continue to believe in Saturn as long as I am satisfied with the product and the treatment but move on if I'm not. BTW if Saturn does adopt a negotiated selling policy they are in for a major surprise when I come in for a car. I consider myself a very good negotiating buyer and I guarantee the experience will be more unpleasant for them than it will be for me <img src="http://64.77.2.166/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/Images/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle">

[wei_]

Like Al, I also heard that the Saturn S-series will be the only cars built off the Delta platform. All other cars, ie Cavalier and Sunfire, have been put on hold. This was from an article from two weeks ago.
-Wei

[Rook]

That's because Cavalier & Sunfire tested awfully in focus groups. I heard a rumor that, thanks to the
Fiat alliance, GM is going to base their small cars on the Fiat platform. This may portend something
for Saturn if GM's goal is to commonize the small cars.